On the right track to a rewarding career in the automotive industry

18 September 2015 - Behind the scenes tour at Clipsal 500 Adelaide

The sound of roaring engines filled the air at Clipsal 500 Adelaide as Jarrad Hamood stepped out onto the tarmac for his first gridwalk, eager to see what a privileged few ever get to experience.

The 21-year-old counts the MTAA Super-sponsored ‘behind the scenes’ tour at Clipsal 500 Adelaide earlier this year as one of the highlights of his apprenticeship.

“All the cars are lined up on the grid, all the promotions people are there and you get to walk alongside the pit crews and have a look at all the cars,” said Jarrad.

“They let you go through and take photos and then the jets fly over, and it’s great! Some of the drivers are there and you get to meet them as well.”

Jarrad has been passionate about cars since he was a boy. He told us, “I’ve always played around with them at home, doing them up. When I got into a multi-trades course in high school it really took off. I started it in Year 11 and I did my work experience at a mechanical place and I really enjoyed that.”

Jarrad became an MTAA Super member at the start of his apprenticeship at Roly’s Automotive Services in the town of Berri, South Australia. In 2015 Jarrad was named Motor Trades Association SA Apprentice of the Year and his prize included $2,000 from MTAA Super.

Jarrad’s host employer Roly McCreanor said, “Right from the start of his apprenticeship, Jarrad demonstrated he was going to be a committed and valuable employee. I have total trust and confidence in any tasks I allocate him. He has transitioned from a reserved, softly spoken first-year apprentice to a very confident, very liked team member amongst his peers. He has a natural flair for the motor industry and is eager to go forward.”

According to Jarrad, winning the Apprentice of the Year award has already opened doors for him. “We are part of the Repco Auto Services group and I have had some of the bigger bosses come through and say they want me to go on some of the big training courses.”

MTAA Super, the $8.6B superannuation fund for the motor trades and allied industries, has sponsored the Apprentice of the Year program across Australia for many years. The award spotlights the hard work and dedication of promising men and women who have excelled during their automotive training. The super fund also supports the long-running MTAA Super Pathways® program which helps educate young people and parents about the diversity of rewarding careers in the automotive industry.